My head on a swivel, I see Charlie emerge from the elevators and again get the sense that he is both calm and deadly.
He makes me right away. “Checking up on me?” he asks, good-natured as he strolls up to Mads and me.
“Yep.” Releasing my death grip, I make the introductions. “Charlie Wills, this is Mads, my boyfriend. Mads, this is the big damn hero saving all these folks.”
They exchange a handshake, and Charlie admonishes me. “You do know I wasn’t the only one doing things out there, right?” He then points at the guy behind the counter. Clearly not an employee, but he is definitely running the show.
“That's Piolo—Pio to his friends. He’s been amazing to work with and kept me from losing my head a couple of times. If you don't mind a suggestion, the way he manages logistics around here is top-notch. He's helped reunite dozens—hundreds of trafficked people in Southeast Asia. I’m happy to support the cause, but you’re always better off going with local people. Had Wolfe Athletics consulted someone on the ground from the beginning, you wouldn’t have ever needed me.”
“Yeah…billionaires tend to think in terms of fixing it with money and not addressing the systems that cause it,” I say, arching a brow at my favorite billionaire.
Mads holds up his hands. “It’s a good reminder.”
Charlie calls Pio over, and he’s another calm-and-deadly sort, but funny. He and Mads get along like gangbusters, and Pio shows us how he’s organizing everything. There are conference rooms set up to process paperwork and to call family, and every person gets their own room, though people are welcome to share if they feel more comfortable.
I take Pio’s information and forward it to Luca, thanking them for their time.
Charlie walks us out. “Going back to Texas after this?” I ask.
He nods, wrinkling his nose. “Eventually. Going over to Kuala Lumpur first to run a quick op and maybe do some hiking.”
“Good luck.”
We shake hands, then Mads and I head toward the city.